Metal-shearing machine



Sept. 7 1926.

C. D. M DONALD METAL SHEARING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1925 1 Sheets-Sheetl C/ZarZJ QNH 7 Sheets-She C. D. M DONALD METAL SHEARING MACHINE FlledJuly 10 1925 Sept. 7 1926.

Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,919

c. D. MCDONALD METAL SHEARI NG MACHINE Filed July 10. 1925 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,91 9

c. D. MCDONALD METAL SHEARING MACHI NE Filed July 10. 1925 '7Sheets-Sheet 5 Q Q R Q 3 "w w I 1 l 1 I 1 I lT Z/U/ZTLZEWJ Sept. 7 1926.

C. D. M DONALD METAL SHEARING MACHINE v Sheets-Sheeb 6 Filed July 10,1926 Sept. 7,1926.

'6. D. M DONALD METAL SHEARING MACHINE Filed July 10. 19250 '7Sheets-Sheet '7 l/ L LJ LJ Patented, Se t. 7, 1926.

- {UNITEDSTATES PATENT O I C E.

CHARLES D. McDONALD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MQDONALD MACHINECO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIORATION OF ILLINOIS.

METAL-SHEARING MACHINE.

Application filed July 10, 1925'. Serial No. 42,632.

This invention relates to metal shearing. machines,

and more particularly to 'that type of metal shearing machines thatoperate to shear or cut-strips from a long metal sheet. Machines of thistype are frequently employed for shearing a long sheet of metal y intostrips, ular edges,

having scroll or otherwise irregwhich strips are sometimes subsequentlyoperated on bydie presses to form smaller sheet metal articles.

Among the objects of this invention are, automatic operation of thevarious elements that constitute the machine efliciency, speed andaccuracy.

' Another object is to provide automatic means for separating thesheared metal strips from the scrapeat the ends of the sheet. Anotherobject is to provide means for accurately locating the; sheet withrespect to the dies, each time the sheet is fed forward to the dies;another object is to provide improved means for feeding the metal sheetsto the dies in a step by step manner, and without any loss of timebetween successive sheets; another object is to provide automatic meansfor temporarily supporting a sheet adjacent, but out 01' engagement withthe sheet feeding mechanism and subsequently bringing said temporarilysupported sheet into engagement with the sheet feeding mechanism;another object is to provide improved means, controlled by the presenceof. thesheetfwhi'ch is being fed to the dies, and the temporarilysupported P sheet for automatically bringing said temporarily supportedsheet into engagement with the sheet feeding mechanism at the propertime.- Q

The invention further consists in the several novel features hereinafterfully set forth and claimed. 4 I

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is a 'side elevation, partly broken away, of a metalshearing machme embodying a simple, form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 IS a View of the parts seen in Fig. l,

partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, the line of sectionbeingtalien at. 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detailvertical section of thedie mechanism and scrap separating mechanism, the linevof section being1nd1- cated at 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is'a detail side elevation ofcertain members forming part of the scrap separating mechanism; Fig. 5'1s a verticalcross section of the feed table and feed mechanism taken onthe line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectionof a fragment of the finger bar mechanism of the'sheet feedingmechanism, the line of section being taken at t-6 m Fig. 5;-Fig. 7 is a'detail cross section taken on line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 1s a detail planof one of the sheet feeding fingers and associated parts; Fig. 9 is adetall, vertical cross sectio of the mechanism for dropping a temporarly supported sheet lnto engagement with the sheet feeding mechanism, theline of section being indicated at 99 in Fig. 2; Fig." 10 is a detailslde elevation of the sheet controlled clutch mechanism therefor; Fig.11 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of acertain safety device employed in said mechanlsm, the line of sectionbeing taken at 1111 in Fig. 9.; Fig. 12 is a detail section taken online 12-42 of Fig. 11; Fig. 1 1 s a detail sideelevation of a sheet de-,taming clamp; Fig. 14 is a view, looking from below, of the clutchmechanism seen in Fig. 11; Fig. 15 is a plan of a. fragment of a metalsheet illustrating the manner in which it is cut up; Fig. 16 is a planofone of the dies, and Fig. 17 is a detail, vertical.

longitudinal section through the dies, the

hne .of section being indicated at 1717 in Fig. 16.

Metal shearing machines of the type embodying the present invention, andillustrat- ,ing and describing, -more in detail, the shearing mechanism,dies and sheet feeding mechanism of the finger bar type are disclosed inprior patents heretofore issued to me, among which are the following:No. 1,110,810, metal shearing machine, dated September 15, 1914; No.1,194,728, metal shearing machine, dated August 15,1916 No. 1,227,162,metal shearing machine, date May 22, 1917, to which reference may bemade. The present improvements, with certain modifications, may beadapted to the machines of said prior patents as will be readilyunderstood. v

Referring now to the drawin accompanying this specification, and w ichillustrate one embodiment of the present invention, the referencecharacter 20 designates the base of the shearing mechanism of the forthe cross head 22 that carries themova head frame supported?- machine,and 21 a slideways,

thereon and containing the usual ble or male shearing die 23. The-crosshead 22 is reciprocated by a crank shaft 24 and connecting rods 25 as iscustomary in ma chines of this type. The usual gearing .(not

' shown) is provided for operating the crank two or more feet wide.

out the strips from scribed is a feed table 28 which rec eives the metalsheets that are to be cut up into strips and said table may be ofsuitable length to receive relatively long sheets that\ are sometimes asmuch as ten feet long or more, and The table comprises two outerhorizontal sheet supporting rails 29 (see also-Figs. 5 and 9) and amiddle horizontal bar 30 upon which the sheets are deposited by thetemporary sheet supporting mechanism and supported during the time theyare fed to the dies, and said rails 29 and bar 30 are supported by legs31, 31

. that extend up from the. base 32 of the table Located above and at thesides of said rails 29 are temporary sheet supporting members 33, 33here shown in the form of star wheels, as a preference having four arms34 formed on a central hub, and mounted on two parallel shafts 35 thatextend along the rails 39 and are rotatively mounted in bearing brackets36 secured to the outer faces of said rails. Normally said star wheelsstand in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein two of their .armslie in approximate .horizontal planes and form temporary supports forone of the sheets A that is to be fed to the shearing dies. Said armssupport said sheet A somewhat above the rails 29 whereby another sheet Amay lie upon said rails during the time that it is fed to the shearingdies. The outer edge portions of the/sheet A pass between the upperfaces of the rails, 29, and lower edges of the arms 34 thereabove as isclearly seen in Fig. 5. At the proper time during a cycle of operationof the machine said star wheels are rotated one-fourth of a revolutionin the direction of the arrows shown thereon in Fig. 5, therebyloweringthe sheet A upon said rails 29 in position to be fed to the shearingdies. -The mechanism for intermittently roin feeding it to tating saidstar wheels will be described later on.

The metal sheet, which is supported by the rails ofthe table, is fed tothe shearing dies in a step by step fashion by finger bar mechanismwhich will now be described.

In the upper faces of the rails 29 are slideways in which are mountedreciprocatory finger bars 37 upon which are pivotally mounted upwardlyspring pressed fingers 38 'ghat are placed equidistant on said fingerars, those on the other, and they are arranged to successively engagethe rear end of the sheet the shearing dies. The construction andoperation of the finger bar those on one finger bar being oppositemechanism. is more fully shown and described in several of my priorpatents above referred to. The finger bars extend throughout the greaterportion of the length of the table and the fingers thereof are depressedby the sheet that lies on them, and the last pair of the two series offingers is arranged to engage the rear end of the sheet and start ittoward the shearing dies. Thereafter each succeeding pair of fingersengages the rear end of the sheet and feeds it forward in a step by stepfashion. The mechanism which reciprocates the finger bars 37, asillustrated in the drawings, comprises levers 39 connected at theirupper ends with the tion of the finger bar mechanism and as shown saidmeans comprises a crank arm 42 mounted upon a cross shaft 43 journaledin the legs 31 of the table and connected to the arms 39 by a link 44, alever 39 and a cross rod 44 (see Fig. 5) which link 44, and cross rod44, if desired, may have safety connection devices 45 between them as isillustrated in Fig. 3, whereby in case movement of the sheet A isstopped from any unusual cause, the link 44 may continue to reciprocatewithout effecting the levers 39, whereby the finger bar mechanism mayremain at rest until the difficulty has been removed. The cross shaft 43may receive its motion from the crank shaft 24 of the shearing mechanismand as shown it is connected thereto by sprocket wheels 46, 47 mountedon the cross shaft 43 and crank shaft 24 respectively, and connected bya sprocket chain 48. The parts are so arranged and timed that the fingerbars reciprocate once for each stroke of the cross head and the sheet isthereby fed one step toward the dies. The sheet is fed forward towardbegins to move upward.

Inasmuch as the metal sheets upon which the work is erformed, are largeand cumbersome, an require some time in being the dies after the maledie sult will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 10, a trigger 50,

' is seen ad acent the rear end of the table,

which trigger is pivotally mounted on a bracket 51 secured to the rail30. The upper arm of the trigger projects above the table in A whenplaced-on the star wheels 33, and moved in a backward direction. This isdone by the attendant when placing a sheet on the star wheels. Adjacentthe trigger 50 and at the rails 29 are spring pressed moved backward asabove explained, and said clamps 52 act to hold the sheet againstforward movement until positively moved in that direction bV the fingerbar mechanism.

. Adjacent the front end of the table is a dog 53 which is pivotallymounted onione of the rails and has one arm 53 that is' arranged to lieslightly above the rail, but ar-.

ranged to be depressed whenever a sheet lies upon it. The trigger 50 anddog 53 cooperate under certain circumstances to operate a clutch thatconnects the mechanism which rotates the star wheels.-

J ournaled in bearings formed on the legs of the table is a cross shaft54 (see Figs. 1 and 9) which,

a sprocket wheel 56 fast -on the shaft 54 and over a sprocket wheel 57fast on the shaft 43. A clutch member 58 fast on the shaft 54 and aclutch member 59 loose on said shaft cooperate to couple a pinion 60(which is part of or secured to the clutch member 59), with said shaft54, whenever the traveling sheet A has completely passed over the dog53, andanother sheet A has been put in place on the starwheels 33 andmoved back against the finger ,50. Unless two sheets are in such aposition, the clutch remains inactive and the star 'wheels remain atrest. The pinion 60 is connected to the-- shafts 35 of the star wheels33 by mechanism, comprising a gear wheel 61 mounted on a shaft 62, whichis journaled in bearings formed in the table legs 31 and said shaft 62is coupled with the gear wheel 61 by a safety clutch device 63. On theends of the shaft 62 are spiral gear wheels 64- which mesh with spiralgear wheels 65, that are connected to pinions 66 by short shafts 67, anthe pinions 66 mesh with idle gear wheels 68 that meshwith pinions 69fast on position to be engaged by a sheet clamps 52 under which thesheet is placed when as shown, is continuously driven by a sprocketchain 55 trained over the star wheel shafts 35. The ratio of the Theclutch members 58, 59 are normally 6 unclutched, but under certaincircumstances are clutched together by a clutch pin 70 secured in theclutch member 59 and spring pressed toward the clutch member 58 by aspring. When clutched together, the clutch pin enters a notch 71 in theclutch member, 58. A clutch pin retracting shoe 72 (see Figs. 10 and 14)havingfa beveled end engages in a notch in the clutch pin (see Fig; 9)and retracts and holds the clutch pin 70' out of engagement with theclutch member 58, except when withdrawn from the notch in the pin. -Theshoe 72 comprises part of the clutch actuating mechanism, and, as shown,is fast on a rock rotatively mounted in a bracket on the table Fleg 31and on said rock shaft 73 is an arm 74, upon the upper end of which ahook member 75 is pivoted, between its ends, one arm 76 of which isconnected to the trigger 50 by mechanism, here shown as comprising shaft73 which is the table leg 31, and a rod' 79, which extends from the bellcrank-lever 78 to an arm 79 of the trigger 50. The arrangement of theparts just described is such that when a sheet A wheels and moved backagainst the trigger and the upper end of the trigger has been swung backthereby, the hook end 80 of the hook member 75 is lowered as shown indotted lines in Fig. 10, and when the trigger 50 is freed from the sheetthe hook end 80 is swung upwards into the position shown in full linesin said figure. A spring 81, connected to the bell crank lever 78 and tosome stationary support, acts to move the hook member 75 into theposition shown in full lines, the purpose of which will appearpresently. An adjustment screw 82 threaded in a lug on the arm 74affords meansfor limiting the upward movement of thehook .end 80.

Pivotally mounted on the table leg 31 is a clutch shoe'actuating lever83, on the upper end of which is a hook member 84, which is pivotedbetween its ends on said clutch shoe actuating lever 83, and has ahookend 85 that lies below the hook end 80 of the hook member 75 inposition to engage therewith, whenever both the trigger 50 and dog 53are released from the sheets A, A. The end 86 of the hook member 84 isconnected to the dog 53 by mechanism, here shown as comprising a link87, connected to a bell crank lever 88 pivotally mounted on the tableleg 31*, which bell crank lever is connected to an arm 89 of the hasbeen placed upon the star 7 dog by a rod or link 90. A spring 91 betweenthe end 86 of the hook member 84 and clutch shoe actuating arm 83 actsto yieldingly hold the hook end of the hook member 84 up in the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 10, and therewith hold the arm 53of the dog in raised position above the "rail. the lever 83 and somestationary support acts to draw the lever 83 toward the left, as viewedin Fig. 10, against the clutch member 58. Said clutch member 58 has acam or pin 94 on its periphery that acts as a cam and once during each'revolution of the "shaft '54 .and clutch member58 said pin or cam 94engages the lever 83 and swings it in'the direction of the arrow thereonin Fig. 10.. Themovement of the lever 83 caused .by the pin or cam 94has no' effect on the clutch'shoe- 72 when either hook member 75 or 84is in the position shown by the full lines shown in Fig. 10, and whichthey occupy while the trigger 50 is held in.the forward position and thedog 53 is held in the down position shown. When, however, a sheet A haspassed over the dog 53, and released it, the

spring 91 raises the hook end 85 of the hook member 84 to the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, and raises the arm 53 of the dog. If,however, a sheet has been placed on the star wheels and movedbaickagainst the trigger 50, and the latter has been swung back thereby, andthe hook end S0 of the hook member75 has been swung down into theposition shown by the dotted lines" in Fig. 10, the two hook members 75,

- 84 will then be in position for the hooks to engage each other, andthe pin or cam 94 thereupon engages the lever 83, swings it in thedirection of the arrow thereon, and the two hooked together hook members75, 84, and lever, 74, are drawn toward the right, and the clutch shoe72 swung down, thereby releasing the clutch pin which is thereuponforced into the notch -of the clutch member 58, and the shaft 54 therebyclutched to the clutch member 59 and pinion 60.

The star wheels 33 are thereupon partially rotated, depositing the sheetA upon the rails 29, and directly before the shaft 54 makes one completerevolution the clutch pin engages the beveled end of the clutch shoe 72and is thereby retracted from the notch in the clutch member 58. At thistime the star wheels have been rotated through one fourth of arevolution, and the sheet, supported thereby, is lowered upon the rails,whereupon the last pair of fingers of the finger ba'r mechanismengages'jthe sheet and feed it forward one step. As soon as the sheetleaves the trigger 50, the hook member 75 is restored to its normalorninactive position as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 10, and as thesheet moves over the dog 53,

A spring 93 betweeneach time the pin or shoulder 94 engages it.-

The parts just described are so arranged that one sheet follows directlyafter each (preceding one with only a slight gap there;

between.

Means are provided for lining up the sheets with respect to the dies toensure accurate work, and, in its present form, said means comprises apair of. punches 100 (see Fig. 17) carried by the cross head 22 behindthe male thereof, which punches cooperate with holes 101 in the femaledie 26 to punch pilot holes die 23, adjacent the ends' a (see Fig. 15)in the sheet A. In front of the male die 23 are two pilot pins 102,which are in alignment with the punches 100, and spaced therefromprecisely the same distance as the fingers 38 are spaced apart, and inthe female die 26 are holes 103 into which the pilot pins enter eachtime the cross head is moved down. The arran ment is such that thepunches 100 form t 0 holes a (Fig. 16), pins 102 enter said holes whenthe sheet has been fed forward one step, and thereby positively line upeach strip with the nextsucceeding one. The spacing of the fingers issuch that the sheet is fed forward a distance which will permit'the diesto produce two sheared strips each time the die dc,- seends, exceptwhentrimming the forward end of the sheet, and the parts are so ar rangedand proportioned that an end portion of the sheet marked a (Fig. 15) isfirst moved under the male die and that (which is scrap) is trimmed fromthe s eet, thereby leaving a sheared edge for the next strip M. Thesheet is moved forward a certain distance each step, to bring the part aundenthe male die, which part is next sheared off, the part a beingsimultaneously sheared off. The last strip whlch is sheared ofi thesheet, is marked a? and a piece of scrap a is sheared ed at this end atthe same time.

In order to separate strips, means are provided for conveying the stripsand scrap to separate bins orracks. Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, threebins or racks 104, 105, 106 are supported in any suitable manner belowthe dies.- The bins extend lengthwise across the'front of the base 20and an upright partition 107 separates the bin 105 from the bin 106. Thepart of the metal sheet which projects beyond the dies -is sheared offinto a strip that falls upon a chute 110 which conveys it to the bin 104and the part of the sheet that lies above the in the sheet, and thepilot art the scrap from the over the partition 107, thereby the link115 are arranged toengage each" 115 becomes greater, due to'the liftingthrough by the male die, and falls upon a chute 108 which conveys it tothe bin 106.-

The scrap falls through the opening in the female die, and is conveyedby the chute 108 to a gate 109 Which arrests'the scrap and causes it tofall into the bin 105 as will'be presently explained.

Pivotally mounted 'on the cross head 22 is a bell crank lever 111 whichhas an arm 112 that underlies the cross head and is formed with a finger113 which is arranged to contact with that part of a metal sheet whichprojects beyond the dies duringthe shearing operation. If no part of ametal sheet is present at this place the ,lever 111 remains inactive andmerely moves up and down with the cross head. The lower end-of the otherarm 114 of the lever 111 is connected to the gate 109 by a link 115. Thegate is hingedly or pivotally mounted on a bracket 116, and hangs downtherefrom in front of the end of the chute 108 and over the partition107. An arm 117 is secured to and projects up from the gate and isconnected tothe link 115. A spring like hook on the gate and a coactinghook 115 on other whenever the gate is' opened, which hooks serve todetain the gate in open position temporarily and until disconnected whenthe angle between the arm 117 and linl;

o the link by the bell crank lever on the up stroke of the cross head.

The arrangement of the parts just described is such that when the crosshead descends, the lever 111 descends with it and if no sheet is presentabove the front side of the dies, the link 115and arm 114 of the lever111 swing forward on their pivotal connections with the bracket 116 andcross head, the gate remaining in its upright position preventing anyscrap from entering the. bin 106. Whenever an end of a sheet projectsover the fe-. male "die, and the cross 'head descends, the finger 113 ofthe lever 111 strikes the pro- .jecting sheared edge portion of thesheet and fulcrums thereon during the final downward movement of thecross head, and the long arm 114 of said lever is thereupon swung in thedirection of the arrow thereon, the link and ate moved in the directionsindicated by t e arrows, thereby o ening a passage from the end of thechute 08 to the bin 106.

When two strips have been sheared off, the outer one falls into the bin104 and the other one falls through the female die, rides down the chute108 and its momentum carries it over the partition 107 andit falls intothe bin 106.

The arrangement of the feed mechanism relative to the dies is such thatan end part the rock shaft 121, on the rock shaft 40 and a connectingrod 127 that are arranged to roller 129, that runs on a forward.Stripping ported below the magnets and engage the a of a sheet is firstfed over the rear half of the die and that part first sheared off thesheet. Inasmuch as no part of the sheet projects over the front part ofthe die the lever 111 remains inoperative, and the scrap end is punchedthrough the female die, strikes the gate and falls into the bin 105;when the t sheet is again fed forward the end part (which now has hadthe peculiar edge formed upon it) is moved over the front part of thedie and arrests the finger 113 of the lever 111, when the male diedescends, and the gate 109 isthereby opened permitting the strip, whichis punched through the female. die, to pass to the bin 106. The otherready explained.

When strips of the width shown are sheared, the part overhanging thefront part of the female die is suificient to overbalance the other partand the strip therefore falls by gravity from the die. narrower stripsare formed, they are apt to remain on the die, and I have providedadditional means for positively removing them therefrom. In its presentform said means comprises arms 120 mounted upon a rock shaft '121, whichis supported in bearing brackets mounted on the base 20, means forrocking the rock shaft 121, which as shown comprises a rocker arm 122(see Fig. 1) on a rocker arm 123 fast 124 connecting said rocker arms122, 123. Connecting the upper ends of the arms'120 is a rod 125, whichis free to turn in said arms, and secured to said rod 125, by bracketsor the like 126, are permanent magnets be brought into off end strips.On is secured an arm end of which is a track 130, secured to the base20, which track is formed with a depression near its rear end into whichthe roller 129 drops and permits the arm 128, and therewith ;.themagnets 127 to drop slightly. As a result the magnets are moved over theend strip, and lowered upon it,- thereby picking it up, and drawing itforward from the die as the arm 120. is swung fingers 131 are supcontactwith the sheared one end of the rod 125, 128 (see Fig.4) on the strip asit is being moved forward by the magnets, and strip it therefrom,whereupon it falls into the bin 104.

In the operation of the machine, a metal sheet is first placed upon thestar wheels 33 and pushed back into engagement with the trigger 50,thereby depressing the hook end of the hook member 75. The dog 53 isthen manually depressed thereby raising the hook end of the hook member84 into position for engagement with the book when the pin 94'engagesand swings back sheared strip falls into the bin 104 as al-.

When, however,

member 75 and iao the lever 83 ofthe clutch actuating mechanism, theclutch pin retracting shoe 72 is dis- .engaged from the clutch pin, thetwo clutch members 58, 59 clutched together by the clutch pin and thestar wheels thereupon given a quarter revolution thereby depositing themetal sheet'upon the rails'29 in position to be engaged bythe last pairof fingers of the finger bar mechanism. Upon the forward stroke ofthefinger bars, the fingers engage the rear end of the sheet and feed itforward one step and during each reciprocation of the finger bars thesheet is fed forward one step. Another sheet may now be placed upon thestar wheels and moved 'back into engagement with the trigger 50 therebyagain setting the hook member 75 in position to be engaged by the hookmember 84 when the first sheet has completely passed over the dog 53, atwhich time the dog is released, thereby setting the hook member 84 inposition for engagement with V the hook member 75.

In its passage between the shearing dies,

the front edge portion (which is scrap material) is-trimmed off andfalls through the die, 26, slides down the chute 108, strikes the gate109 and drops into the bin 105. When the sheet is next fed forward thesheared front end overlies the front side of the die and when the crosshead descends, the dies shear off the projecting end of the sheet andshear off the part located between the dies; and because of the presenceof the projecting end portion of the sheet the finger 113 of the lever111 is arrested during the final downward movement of the cross head,and

- the gate-109 opened, thereby permitting the strip, which is punchedthrough the dies, to pass by the gate and fall into the bin 106.

The outer strip slides down the chute 110 and falls into the bin 104.Each time the sheet is fed forward between the dies, the pllot punches100, 'punch the pilot holes in the sheet and when the sheet is fedforward the pilot pins 102' enter said holesand ac-v curately line. upthe sheet with respect to thev I dies.

When the positive means. described is used for removing the outer stripfrom the dies, the'arms 120 are moved toward the sheet while the crosshead is descending and the magnets 127 engage the outer strip and drawit forward while the cross head is ascending, thereby ,bringing thestrip into engagement with the stripping fingers 131 1 which disengagethe strip from the magnets, permitting it to drop into the bin 104. Moreor less variation ofthe exact details of construction is possiblewithout departing/ from the spirit of this invention; I desiretheref'ore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the constructionshown and described, but intend, in the following said sheet shearingmechanism in, a step by step manner, of two oppositely disposed sets ofsheet supporting arms rotatively mounted above the finger bars of saidfinger bar mechanism, and arranged to temporarily support a second sheetbove and o ut of engagement with said finger bar mechanism, means forpartially rotating said arms to thereby release said. sheet from saidarms, and arm actuating means controlled by a .dog, engaged by the fedsheet, anda trigger engaged by the temporarily supported sheet, forintermittently rotating said arms, whereby saidtemporarily supportedsheet is deposited into engagement with said finger bar mechanism. I

2. In a sheet shearing machine, the combination with sheet shearingmechanism, and finger bar mechanism for feeding a sheet to said sheetshearing mechanism in a step by step manner, of twooppositely' disposedsets of sheet supporting star wheels rotatively mounted above the fingerbaraof said finger bar mechanism, and having arms arranged totemporarily support a second sheet above and out of engagement with saidfinger bar mechanism, actuatin means for partially rotating said star weels to thereby release said sheet from said arms, and means, controlledby a dog, engaged by the fed sheet, and a trigger engaged by thetemporarily supported sheet, for intermittently rotating said starwheels, whereby said temporarily supported sheet is deposited intoengagement with said finger bar mechanism. v

3. In a metal shearing machine the combination with sheet feedingmechanism, of other, sheet" supporting means for temporarily supportinga second sheet adj acent and out of contact with said sheet" feedingmechanism, mechanism for actuating said sheet supporting means to lowerthe sheet sup- .ported thereby into the path of said sheet feedingmechanism. and including a continuously moving driving element, anintermittently moved driven element and a' clutch therebetween, andclutch actuating mechanism, including ajdog controlled by the mov-"supporting means. to lower the sheet supible members,

binat -said temporarily.

mg asecond sheet abo tween saidcross shaft ported thereby into the pathof saidsheet feeding mechanism and including a continuously'movingdriving element, an interm1ttently moved driven element and a clutchtherebetween, and clutch actuating mecha nism, comprising connectibleand disconnecta dog controlled by the mov ing sheet connected to one ofsaid last mentioned members, and a trigger controlled by the temporarilysupported sheet and connected to the other of said members;

5. In a metal shearing machine the comion with sheet feeding mechanism,of other sheet supporting means for temporarily supporting out ofcontact with said sheet'feeding mechanism for actuating said sheetsupporting means to lower the sheet supported thereby into the path ofsaid sheet feeding mechanism and including a continuousl movlng drivingelement, an intermittent y moved driven element anda clutchtherebetween, and clutch actuating mechanism comprising a lever actuatedby said driving element, a clutch pin releasing lever, connectible anddisconnectible members betweensaid levers, a dog controlled by themoving sheet and connected to one of said last mentioned members and atrigger controlled by said temporarily supported sheet and connected tothe other of saidmembers. T 6. In a metal shearing machine, thecombination with sheet feeding mechanism, of

other sheet supporting means for temporarily supportlng a second sheetadjacentand out of contact with said sheet feeding mechanism, mechanismfor actuating said sheet supporting means to lower the sheet supportedthereby into the path of said sheet feeding mechanism and including acontinuously moving driving element, an intermittently moved drivenelement and a clutch therebetween, and clutch actuating mechanismcomprising a .lever actuated by said driving element, a clutch'pinreleasing lever, two normally disconnected hook members,

one pivotally mounted on each of said lastmentioned levers, a dogcontrolledby the.

movingsh'eet 'and'. connected to one of said hook members, and a triggercontrolled-by supported sheet andconnected to the other of said hookmembers.

7. In a'me'tal shearing machine, the combination with sheet shearingmechanism and sheet feeding mechanism, of rotatory sheet supportingmeans for temporarily su portve and out 0 contact with said sheetfeeding mechanism, a continuously rotating drive shaft, anintermittently rotated cross shaft, gearin and 'said rotatory sheetsupporting means, gearing between said drive shaft and cross terposebetween one of the 'gears ofthe last mentioned gearing andsaid driveshaft, and

a second sheet adjacent and shaft, a clutch inating members, controlledby a sheet actuate'd dog connected to one of said last mentioned membersand a sheet actuated trigger connected to the other of said members.

8. In a metal shearing machine, the combination with and sheet feedingmechanism, of a pair of intermittently rotated shafts adjacent saidsheet feeding mechanism and having arms thereon for temporarilysupporting a second sheet above and feeding mechanism, a continuouslyrotating drive shaft, an intermittently rotated cross shaft, gearingbetween said cross shaft and said pair of intermittently rotated shafts,gearing between said drive shaft and cross shaft, a clutch interposedbetween one of the gears of the last mentioned gearing and said driveshaft, vand clutch operating mechanism therefor having connectible anddisconnectible clutch actuating members, controlled by a sheet actuateddog connected 'to one of sa'id'last mentioned members and a sheetactuated trigger-connected to the other of said'members.

sheet. shearing mechanism out of contact with said sheet 9. In a metalshearing machine, the combination with sheet shearing mechanism andfinger'bar mechanism for feeding a sheet to said shearing mechanism, ofa air of intermittently rotated shafts adjacent said finger barmechanism and having star wheels, thereon for temporarily supporting asecond sheet above and out of'engagement with said finger bar mechanism,a continuously rotating drive shaft, an intermittently rotated ,crossshaft, gearing between saidcross shaft and said pair of intermittentlyrotated shafts, gearing between said drive shaftand cross shaft, aclutch interposed between one of the gears of the last mentioned gearingand said drive shaft and clutch operating mechanism therefor havingcon'nectible and 'disconnectible clutch actuating 'members, controlledby a sheet actuated to one of said last mentioned members and. a sheetactuated trigger connected to the other of said members.

10. In ametal shearing machine, the com- ;bination with sheet shearingmechanism having die supports and male and female dies mounted thereon,of a scrap receiving bin, ;a strip receivin bin adjacent thereto and achute terminating above the scrap remechanism and controlled by the endportion of a metal'sheet operated on.

11. In a metal shearing machine, the combination with sheet shearingmechanism having die supports and male and female dies, mounted"thereon,

- bination with sheet shearing mechanism of a scrap receiving bin, and achute terminating above the scrap receiving bin, a second stripreceiving bin, a gate for arresting scrap, located between said scrapreceiving bin and first mentioned strip receiving bin, a gate openinglever fulcrumed 0n the male die support and having a finger adapted toengage the end portion .of a metal sheet when the latter is projectedover the female die, and thereby swing said lever and therewith opensaid gate.

\12. In a metal shearing'machine, the combination with sheet shearingmechanism having die supports and male and female dies mounted thereon,of a scrap receiving bin, a strip receiving bin adjacentthereto and achute terminating above the scrap receiving bin, a second stripreceiving bin, a gate for arresting scrap, located between said scrapreceiving bin and first mentioned strip receiving bin, a ate openinglevel fulcrumed on said male ie support, and a link connecting one endof said leverwith the gate, said lever having an arm terminating in afinger adapted to engage the end por-' tion of a metal sheet when thelatter is projected over the female die, and thereby swing said leverand therewith open said gate.

13. In a metal shearing machine, the comhaviug die supports and male andfemale dies mounted thereon, of a scrap receiving bin, a strip receivingbin adjacent thereto and a chute terminating above the scrap receivingbin, a second strip receiving bin, a

rate for arrestin scra located between said scrap receiving bin andfirst mentioned strip eceiving bin, gate opening mechanism operativelyconnected to the shearing mechanism and controlled by the end portion ofa metal sheet operated on, and retarding means between the gate and gateopening mechanism for delaying the closing movement of the gate.

14. In a metal shearing machine, the combination with metal shearingmechanism having male and female dies, cooperating to a strip receivingbin adjacent theretov shear. strips of metal from a metal sheet, ofstrip removing mechanism for removing sheared strips from the femaledie, and comprising. an oscillatory member, means for 0s cillating saidmember in timed relation with the movements of the male die, stripengaging means carried by said oscillatory member, and adapted to carrysheared strips laterally away from the female die and stripping meansfor disengaging the strips from said strip engaging means.

15. In a metal shearing machine, the combination with metal shearingmechanism having male and female dies, of strip removing mechanism forremoving strips from the female die, that are sheared off a metal sheet,and comprising an oscillatory member, means for oscillating said memberin timed relation with the movements of the male die, magnets carried bysaid oscillatorymember, and adapted to be brought into contact with thesheared 01f strips, and stripping means for disengaging the strips fromthe magnets.

16.. In sheet feeding mechanism for metal shearing machines, thecombination of reciprocatory finger bar mechanism for feeding forward ametal sheet, sheet supporting means for temporarily supporting a sheetabove andv out of contact with said finger bar mechanism and sheetreleasing mechanism for releasing said temporarily supported sheet anddepositing it upon said finger bar mechanism, said sheet releasingmechanism being controlled by both of said sheets.

17-. In a sheet feeding mechanism for metal shearing machines, ofreciprocatory finger bar mechanism, for feeding forward a metal sheet,sheet supporting star Wheels for temporarily supporting a metal sheetabove and out of contact with said finger bar mechanism and mechanismunder the control of both sheets for partially rotating said star wheelsto deposit the temporarily supported sheet upon the finger barmechanism.

CHARLES D. MCDONALD- the combination

